By Charles Ayodele.
Security personnel have arrested 13 suspected illegal miners, allegedly operating in Kakafu village, Pategi Local Government Area of Kwara and recovered five trucks of mineral resources.
This waa contained in a statement signed by Mr Ayeni Olasunkanmi, Public Relation Officer (PRO) of NSCDC in Ilorin.
According to the statement, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) Ilorin Zonal Command, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC) Kwara command and Federal Mines and Steel Development effected the arrest.
Olasunkanmi said the suspects were arrested, during a joint operation following a credible intelligence report received by the EFCC over some suspected illegal miners operating in the area.
The suspects were, Buba Mohammed, Yusuf Umar, Surajo Shehu, Abubakar Abdullahi, Salisu Mohammed, Quadri Sulaiman and Nwafor Chinonso.
Other suspects are: Abdullahi Isa, Mustapha Mohammed, Buhari Hassan, Basiru Jafaru, Murtala Jafaru and Jafaru Abdullahi.
The PRO said that five trucks loaded with different solid minerals were also recovered from the suspects.
He said that preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects have not been paying royalties to the federal government as required by law.
Olasunkanmi however, said that the suspects would soon be charged to court upon conclusion of the ongoing investigations.
